Veteran trainer Brittain backing the Classic trials

Clive Brittain insisted on Tuesday that the traditional programme of Classic trials is still relevant to racing's modern agenda.

Brittain, who took out his trainer's licence in 1972, will tread a familiar path when he runs his Stan James 1,000 Guineas outsider Albabilia in the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.

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It is the same prep race he used for his two 1,000 Guineas winners, Pebbles, in 1984, and Sayyedati in 1993.

But only four winners of the fillies' Classic in the past 10 years have gone into the race with the benefit of a run.

Brittain said: "The fillies are not 100 per cent at this time of year so if you can finish in the first three, you know that in two weeks' time you are going to be even better.

'You have to have your fillies fit to race but don't want to put the finishing touches to them until the big race. If you see some long hairs on the horses' chins this week, you'll know that they'll improve when it disappears. That's a tip from an old man.'

Albabilia, who was found to have an irregular heartbeat, brought on, according to her trainer, by a panic attack when disappointing on her final run last year, has wintered in Dubai where she had a run against older horses.

Brittain, 74, added: 'On the form she showed when winning the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket last year, I'm convinced she could be a Group One filly.'

One of her rivals in the 14-strong field is Infallible, who has been showing up well on the gallops. She is John Gosden's main hope for the 1,000 following the defection of Sense of Joy last night due to soft tissue damage. French filly Natagora is now 4-1 favourite for the Classic with sponsors Stan James.

Shabiba and Spinning Lucy are two more Nell Gwyn contenders. Shabiba, who had four subsequent winners behind when landing her maiden, including Listed victor Spinning Lucy, tries to follow up stablemate Il Warrd's win at Kempton on Saturday.

Trainer Marcus Tregoning said: 'She has to show she stays seven furlongs, but I think she will. Ours are definitely ready and pretty forward.'

If the fillies' trials have been clinging to credibility, it has drained faster from the colts' races. Only two of the last 10 2,000 Guineas winners — Haafhd four years ago and King's Best in 2000 — had a prep run.

Meanwhile, Cecil got off the mark for the season with only his second runner of the campaign when Born Tobouggie scored on his debut at Nottingham on Tuesday. Cecil saddles one of his big hopes, Kandahar Run, in Wednesday's Listed Feilden Stakes on the first day of the Craven meeting.